What kind of lizard did we find?

Question

We opened our front door, and a little baby lizard came into our house. We caught it but now we don't know what type it is. It is about 2 inches long with a 1/2 inch tail, the top of it is orange-ish, the sides are brown-ish and the belly is silver-ish. It has a pointy head, and smooth body. But i think it might just be a baby and that it may grow to have scales. It is not wet, it is dry. We live in southern California. Im not sure if any of these website typings will work, hopefully you can copy and paste at least one of them to view the lizard... http://www.flickr.com/photos/29950493@N05/2803307929/

Answer 1

It is NOT a skink.

It is an alligator lizard - I would say either a San Diego alligator lizard or a California alligator lizard (subspecies of the Southern alligator lizard).

Here is some information about them as well as their natural ranges:

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/p...

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/p...

I would advise you to release it back into the wild during the daytime (as they are diurnal) around the area where you found it. It is a wild animal and should stay in the wild.

Answer 2

He looks like a skink, and he's missing the end of his tail.  He's not a baby.  Babies are tiny.

I'd recommend that you return him to the wild, where he belongs.  Capturing wild lizards causes stress, and stress lowers the immune system.  The reptile will then fall prey to illnesses and diseases it otherwise wouldn't be susceptible to.

Wild caught lizards don't do well in captivity, and most die.  They can also carry disease and parasites.

So, please do the right thing and release the terrified little guy back outside where he belongs.

Answer 3

i think thats a skink